Massachusetts District Launches Parent Academies To Improve Community Connections

Worcester Public Schools is creating customized education solution designed to improve home-school connections and support digital learning for the 24,000 students in its district.

The district has partnered with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the effort. HMH worked with Worcester to identify its needs and then create a personalized, three-tiered solution that met those requirements. That approach includes:

  • Parent academies that offer learning materials, professional development services, and local classes and workshops to the parents and family members of WPS's more than 24,000 students;
  • Digital curriculum tailored for and delivered to students' mobile devices; and
  • Pinpoint, HMH's education management suite that supports parent academies and fosters the district's digital efforts.

    HMH's Pinpoint suite is an integrated education platform--with tools for students, teachers, and administrators--that can be customized to a district's needs. Administrators can manage curriculum and assessments, create reports, and place students based on performance. Teachers can manage curriculum and access assessment tools and grade books through a single portal. Students can access interactive learning resources that support what they're learning in the classroom including games, quizzes, videos, and online tutoring.

    Jeffrey Mulqueen, Worcester Public School's chief academic officer, said the district's partnership with HMH will foster better parent-to-school connections.

    "The opportunity to implement a comprehensive technology platform that gives students, parents and teachers greater connectivity is at the crux of our interest," Mulqueen said in a prepared statement. "Pinpoint allows us to break free from time and place, allowing teachers and parents to work at higher levels of productivity."

    • About the Author

    Kanoe Namahoe is online editor for 1105 Media's Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].

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